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| UK's best circus performers will compete in bid to develop a 'British Cirque du Soleil' | UK's best circus performers will compete in bid to develop a 'British Cirque du Soleil' |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| When economists bemoan the foreign drain on homegrown talent and skills, they probably don't have trapeze artists, acrobats or high-wire walkers in mind. Yet Britain has lost a generation of highly-trained performers to circus troupes based abroad. | When economists bemoan the foreign drain on homegrown talent and skills, they probably don't have trapeze artists, acrobats or high-wire walkers in mind. Yet Britain has lost a generation of highly-trained performers to circus troupes based abroad. |
| In response, the first nationwide attempt to keep more skilled entertainers working on these shores will be launched Monday . Circus Space, the only training organisation in Britain that offers a degree in circus skills, will announce a competition to find the best new acts and keep them performing inside British big tops. | In response, the first nationwide attempt to keep more skilled entertainers working on these shores will be launched Monday . Circus Space, the only training organisation in Britain that offers a degree in circus skills, will announce a competition to find the best new acts and keep them performing inside British big tops. |
| "Sadly, we have produced very few performers who go on to work in the UK. At the moment they all go straight to rivals abroad," said Daisy Drury, director of development at Circus Space. The charitable institute, which is based in east London, was at the vanguard of the burgeoning interest in circus arts in this country at the turn of the millennium and has since trained thousands of artists. | "Sadly, we have produced very few performers who go on to work in the UK. At the moment they all go straight to rivals abroad," said Daisy Drury, director of development at Circus Space. The charitable institute, which is based in east London, was at the vanguard of the burgeoning interest in circus arts in this country at the turn of the millennium and has since trained thousands of artists. |
| The popularity of visiting productions from foreign troupes such as Canada's Cirque du Soleil, Archaos from France and Fuerzabruta from Argentina, combined with the key role played by aerialists in major national events – such as the show in the Millennium Dome on New Year's Eve 1999 and the Olympic and Paralympic opening ceremonies last year – have all helped to establish circus as a contemporary art form in Britain. Yet while a growing number of people of all ages have been drawn to take training courses, few have found work here. | The popularity of visiting productions from foreign troupes such as Canada's Cirque du Soleil, Archaos from France and Fuerzabruta from Argentina, combined with the key role played by aerialists in major national events – such as the show in the Millennium Dome on New Year's Eve 1999 and the Olympic and Paralympic opening ceremonies last year – have all helped to establish circus as a contemporary art form in Britain. Yet while a growing number of people of all ages have been drawn to take training courses, few have found work here. |
| "The problem has been that our theatre tradition is so text-based, while in Europe there is a strong tradition of visual and circus entertainment. There are very few opportunities for our graduates here," added Drury. "It is incredibly hard for them, so it is great there will be a new way around that. We're particularly looking forward to showing the public just how vibrant and unexpected contemporary circus-based performance can be." | "The problem has been that our theatre tradition is so text-based, while in Europe there is a strong tradition of visual and circus entertainment. There are very few opportunities for our graduates here," added Drury. "It is incredibly hard for them, so it is great there will be a new way around that. We're particularly looking forward to showing the public just how vibrant and unexpected contemporary circus-based performance can be." |
| The hunt to be called Circus Maximus will start this week and is being jointly run by Underbelly Productions and Circus Space. It will culminate in a live competition performed for the public in London, where the best act will win £5,000 as well as the chance to develop a new show with Underbelly, the producers of a number of high-profile circus shows in recent years, including the Australian productions Cantina and Tom Tom Crew. | The hunt to be called Circus Maximus will start this week and is being jointly run by Underbelly Productions and Circus Space. It will culminate in a live competition performed for the public in London, where the best act will win £5,000 as well as the chance to develop a new show with Underbelly, the producers of a number of high-profile circus shows in recent years, including the Australian productions Cantina and Tom Tom Crew. |
| "When we put on these great circus shows every year, we wonder why some of them aren't British, so it is wonderful to be setting up a platform for our own new stars," said Stephen Makin of Underbelly. | "When we put on these great circus shows every year, we wonder why some of them aren't British, so it is wonderful to be setting up a platform for our own new stars," said Stephen Makin of Underbelly. |
| "Circus has universal appeal now, from traditional big top-style work to the more contemporary Canadian acts like Cirque du Soleil." | "Circus has universal appeal now, from traditional big top-style work to the more contemporary Canadian acts like Cirque du Soleil." |
| Makin describes Britain as "a hotbed of world-class circus talent", providing acts for the best companies in the world. "We hope that through Circus Maximus, the UK can now follow in the footsteps of France and the United States in staging a competition to celebrate circus and provide a showcase our exceptional performers deserve," he said. | Makin describes Britain as "a hotbed of world-class circus talent", providing acts for the best companies in the world. "We hope that through Circus Maximus, the UK can now follow in the footsteps of France and the United States in staging a competition to celebrate circus and provide a showcase our exceptional performers deserve," he said. |
| With free entry, potential competitors from both professional troupes and amateur clubs – with skills ranging from tumbling and uni-cycling to globe walking – are invited to come forward before 24 March. Shortlists will be drawn up by the judges, including Drury, and will be based on four criteria: creativity, originality, entertainment value and execution. Those acts shortlisted will then take part in a series of heats leading up to the final contest. | |
| Heats and finals will take place in front of an audience and a panel of judges at Underbelly's landmark upside-down, purple cow tent on the banks of the Thames outside London's Southbank Centre in May. Selection will take place by audience vote and the panel of expert judges. | Heats and finals will take place in front of an audience and a panel of judges at Underbelly's landmark upside-down, purple cow tent on the banks of the Thames outside London's Southbank Centre in May. Selection will take place by audience vote and the panel of expert judges. |
| The winners of the heats, plus a wild card contender to be chosen by the judges, will then perform together in the finals – a full-blown circus show. The overall winner will be announced after the final show on 1 June. | The winners of the heats, plus a wild card contender to be chosen by the judges, will then perform together in the finals – a full-blown circus show. The overall winner will be announced after the final show on 1 June. |